Tennessee State Guard

The Tennessee State Guard (TNSG) is the state defense force of the state of Tennessee. It is an all-volunteer, part-time reserve military force. Its members assemble for training and drills once per month unless called to active duty. The TNSG is organized as a branch of the Tennessee Military Department, parallel to the state's National Guard. The TNSG falls under the authority of the Governor of Tennessee. The governor can mobilize the TNSG at his or her discretion. The State Guard acts as a force multiplier for the state's National Guard, but unlike their National Guard counterparts, State Guardsmen cannot be federalized, and cannot be deployed outside of the state without permission from the governor. The creation of a state military force is recognized under Tennessee Code Annotated 58-1-401.[1] This law ensures that the governor is able to provide a military response in case of an emergency even if the National Guard is deployed, by having the Tennessee State Guard assume the state duties of the state's National Guard. The organized militia of Tennessee, which currently includes the Tennessee State Guard, has existed in various forms since the Revolutionary War, although the modern incarnation of the TNSG was established in 1985. Members serve on a voluntary basis, and are not paid unless called up for active service. As the Tennessee State Guard generally provides non-combat support for the National Guard or state civilian authorities, they are not armed during duty, although no law exists which prevents them from being armed on the governor's orders.